Thursday, November 29, 2012

An Islamic terrorist bomb plot to cause carnage on Moscow's Red Square was thwarted by a spam text message, a court heard today.

Ilyas Saidov was jailed for 15 years for organising the attack in
which two women suicide bombers were supposed to wear explosive belts to
be detonated by a mobile phone call.

But just hours before they were to strike on New Year's Eve 2010, one
belt exploded after the detonator was activated by a spam text, killing
one of the women and prompting the arrest of the other. She was
sentenced to 10 years in jail in May.

Spam is a daily nuisance for many Russians buying new SIM cards but
this time the message saved thousands from being in harm's way. Red
Square is a popular gathering point for Muscovites to see in the new
year.